Economic DevelopmentNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Economic DevelopmentFri, 09 Feb 2018 05:38:10 +0000Economic Developmenthttp://wunc.org
Jason deBruynThe N.C. Department of Commerce released the file on its effort to recruit a coveted Toyota-Mazda auto manufacturing plant. The file contains nearly 400 pages of text messages, emails, and other documents that together paint the picture of how economic development leaders sought to woo the car makers to North Carolina.Documents Offer More Answers In Toyota-Mazda Losshttp://wunc.org/post/documents-offer-more-answers-toyota-mazda-loss
118298 as http://wunc.orgWed, 07 Feb 2018 14:15:45 +0000Documents Offer More Answers In Toyota-Mazda LossJason deBruynWhen auto manufacturers Toyota and Mazda build a $1.6 billion joint manufacturing plant in Alabama, it will mark another miss for economic developers in North Carolina. North Carolina was a finalist for the plant, which will add 4,000 manufacturing jobs near Huntsville, but ultimately lost out in the final stages of negotiations.Why Toyota-Mazda Passed On NC, And Why That May Be A Good Thinghttp://wunc.org/post/why-toyota-mazda-passed-nc-and-why-may-be-good-thing
116532 as http://wunc.orgWed, 10 Jan 2018 22:09:27 +0000Why Toyota-Mazda Passed On NC, And Why That May Be A Good ThingRepublican Gov. Pat McCrory and his Democratic challenger Roy Cooper outlined their economic visions today to a room full of business leaders in Pinehurst.McCrory, Cooper Pitch Economic Policies To Business Grouphttp://wunc.org/post/mccrory-cooper-pitch-economic-policies-business-group
84426 as http://wunc.orgThu, 18 Aug 2016 20:11:41 +0000McCrory, Cooper Pitch Economic Policies To Business GroupJess ClarkInvestment in Wake County schools is increasing property values, job growth and spending according to a study out of N.C. State. Wake schools and a local nonprofit called Wake Ed Partnership commissioned N.C. State researcher Mike Walden to conduct the study.Study: Investment In Wake Schools Boosts Jobs, Property Values, Spendinghttp://wunc.org/post/study-investment-wake-schools-boosts-jobs-property-values-spending
68696 as http://wunc.orgWed, 09 Dec 2015 13:22:36 +0000Study: Investment In Wake Schools Boosts Jobs, Property Values, SpendingRebecca MartinezGreensboro, High Point and Guilford County leaders are in informal talks about creating a united economic development partnership. Guilford County Commission chairman Hank Henning says this proposed Guilford County Economic Development Alliance would coordinate to promote the county and its cities as a business destination.Guilford County Government In Talks About Unified Economic Development Fronthttp://wunc.org/post/guilford-county-government-talks-about-unified-economic-development-front
65349 as http://wunc.orgFri, 16 Oct 2015 15:13:20 +0000Guilford County Government In Talks About Unified Economic Development FrontReema KhraisA package of economic incentives aimed at luring businesses to North Carolina is one vote away from reaching the Governor’s desk. The Senate swiftly approved the bill on Tuesday, while the House gave a tentative approval, 84-24, after a lengthy and lively debate. The plan would increase funding for the Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) program from $15 million to $20 million a year. It could go as high as $35 million if the state attracts a large project, like an auto plant, that invests at least $500 million and adds at least 1,750 jobs. Business could receive more generous incentives if they move to a poor county, while wealthier counties would need to add incentives of their own in order to receive a JDIG grant. Some representatives, like Democratic Rep. Mickey Michaux from Durham, argued that lawmakers should focus on building a better quality of life instead. “If we would just bolster our public education system, our higher education system…the people will come,” MichauxNC House, Senate Approve Bill To Lure Jobs http://wunc.org/post/nc-house-senate-approve-bill-lure-jobs
63740 as http://wunc.orgWed, 23 Sep 2015 11:39:01 +0000NC House, Senate Approve Bill To Lure Jobs Rebecca MartinezResidential builders are scrambling to keep up with demand for downtown housing in cities across North Carolina. New apartment building projects are on track to double the number of housing units in the core of downtown Raleigh within a few years. Bill King of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance says much of the demand comes from millennials and downsizing empty-nesters who want to be close to the action. King says there have been few options in the Triangle, which developed as a "suburban region". "Our sort-of signature office park is Research Triangle Park, which is located kind of in the middle of everything, but not actually really in an urban core," King says. "So, we're sort of trying this new type of development for the first time, which means that you're seeing a rapid increase in residential units because frankly there weren't very many residential units in any of our urban cores in the Triangle, or even this part of the state." King says he expects people will continue to chooseNorth Carolinians Move Downtown, Apartments Doublehttp://wunc.org/post/north-carolinians-move-downtown-apartments-double
62374 as http://wunc.orgWed, 02 Sep 2015 13:53:28 +0000North Carolinians Move Downtown, Apartments DoubleRebecca MartinezThe City of Greensboro and the U.S. Economic Development Administration recently finished hosting a contest looking for the best plan to revive the city's economy. Out of six finalists, judges selected the plan submitted by a team from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Prince John Gaither-Eli of Greensboro's Strong Cities, Strong Communities challenge said the UNC-G team proposed building a Global Opportunities Center that would capitalize on the city's manufacturing history and university presence. "Greensboro, based on their research, already has a place in the supply chain of exports. Their goal is to expand that by linking existing businesses to the global economy, and then growing new ones," he said. The 20 total proposals covered a range of economic development themes including: workforce development transportation alternative energy technology place-making small business development Gaither-Eli said the top prize for the second and final phase is $500,000. Now the CityGreensboro Selects Plan For Economic Revitalization http://wunc.org/post/greensboro-selects-plan-economic-revitalization
61358 as http://wunc.orgTue, 18 Aug 2015 11:26:46 +0000Greensboro Selects Plan For Economic Revitalization North Carolina was able to lure 47 new or expansion business projects to the state last year. The haul promises to bring more than 8,000 jobs and $1.4 billion in capital investment. But the state recently lost the bids for a Volvo manufacturing plant and the Mercedes Benz U.S. headquarters. So how's the state doing with economic development overall? Host Frank Stasio talks with Triangle Business Journal’s Jason deBruyn about his recent report that examines the state’s win-loss record and the factors that influence where businesses decide to open up shop.What Makes NC Attractive For Business?http://wunc.org/post/what-makes-nc-attractive-business
59579 as http://wunc.orgTue, 21 Jul 2015 16:04:38 +0000What Makes NC Attractive For Business?Rebecca MartinezUNC-Chapel Hill is planning a performing arts lab, studio and theater on Franklin Street. Chancellor Carol Folt says the University has committed $4 million in non-state funding to build the $5 million facility. Folt says "The Core@Carolina Square" will allow university departments and the public better access to works in progress. But she says it won't compete with the existing performance spaces on campus. "We bring symphony orchestras and ballet companies. They don't come and practice in front of our town's children," Folt says. "This is where you might have a fellowship, you might have a class that's going there, you might get a great choreographer. But they take weeks to develop a new piece. So they can be using that as part of their extended performance space. And almost like a scientist would build a laboratory, it's more like a laboratory space where we open the door and let people in to see it." The Core@Carolina Square will be built on the former site of University Square inUNC To Build $5M Performing Arts Studio In Downtown Chapel Hillhttp://wunc.org/post/unc-build-5m-performing-arts-studio-downtown-chapel-hill
56052 as http://wunc.orgThu, 28 May 2015 11:45:57 +0000UNC To Build $5M Performing Arts Studio In Downtown Chapel HillEric HodgeA Duke University symposium is encouraging students to use entrepreneurial skills to give back to the world. Leaders from several organizations will talk about social entrepreneurship and civic engagement at the campus today. Megan Granda directs Duke's Office of Civic Engagement . She says two freshman pre-med-students serve as a good example. They teamed up with the Clinton Global Initiative. “It was for transforming trash to toys in a poor town in India. This experience has allowed them to engage in social action directly as part of their undergraduate experience.” Granda says in the last year, the numbers of students applying to the program has more than doubled. “I think it's the combination of developing entrepreneurial skills and applying entrepreneurial skills to social action and social good.” The a reception will kick off the event at 4:30. It is free and open to the public.Duke University Symposium Encourages Social Entrepreneurshiphttp://wunc.org/post/duke-university-symposium-encourages-social-entrepreneurship
49090 as http://wunc.orgMon, 26 Jan 2015 14:07:15 +0000Duke University Symposium Encourages Social EntrepreneurshipLeoneda IngeState leaders in economic development circles are gathering Thursday for the grand opening of the new Economic Development Partnership offices in Cary. The new Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina is basically a new privatized business recruitment agency. About 34 people in sales and marketing, along with travel and tourism moved from the state Commerce Department to the new partnership. They worked in sales and marketing, international trade, film and tourism. The Republican-led legislature approved the new economic development partnership, saying it will be able to better focus on growing jobs and luring big businesses to the state. It will also allow the organization to solicit public and private dollars. Last week, Chris Chung officially began work as the partnership’s new CEO. The 38-year-old helped develop the Missouri Partnership in 2007. Chung will make $225,000 a year. Almost half of that money has to be raised through private donations. There are about a dozenNew CEO Opens State Economic Development Partnership Officeshttp://wunc.org/post/new-ceo-opens-state-economic-development-partnership-offices
48893 as http://wunc.orgThu, 22 Jan 2015 10:06:35 +0000New CEO Opens State Economic Development Partnership OfficesLeoneda IngeThe state’s new Economic Development office is officially open and several employees have walked over from the Commerce Department. About 34 people moved from Commerce to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, located on Weston Parkway in Cary. The new non-profit partnership essentially privatizes some of the Commerce Department’s duties. John Lassiter chairs the board. “We’ve got our key sales and marketing folks, along with travel and tourism team that will be focusing on growing jobs and expanding opportunities in NC," said Lassiter. Jonathan Morgan is an Associate Professor at UNC’s School of Government. "It’s not entirely clear that a public private partnership will actually create more jobs or attract more companies than just having a state Economic Development department or a state Commerce Department," said Morgan. He’s been watching these organizations pop up across the country. He says models in Indiana and Arizona have seemed to work. But other states, likeState Commerce Workers Shift To Private Economic Development Partnership http://wunc.org/post/state-commerce-workers-shift-private-economic-development-partnership
43268 as http://wunc.orgTue, 07 Oct 2014 01:52:04 +0000State Commerce Workers Shift To Private Economic Development Partnership This year marks the 10th anniversary of the American Tobacco Historic Campus revitalization in downtown Durham. The businesses and retail stores occupy a space that was once the epicenter of the tobacco industry. Host Frank Stasio talks with former American Tobacco employee Richard Clements about the rise, fall and rebirth of the area. The conversation continues with ATHD developer and Capitol Broadcasting Company CEO Jim Goodmon ; Bull City Forward founder Christopher Gergen ; city and regional planning professor at UNC-Chapel Hill Mai Thi Nguyen ; Walter magazine editor and general manager Liza Roberts ; and Triangle Business Journal reporter Jason deBruyn .American Tobacco Turns 10http://wunc.org/post/american-tobacco-turns-10
41694 as http://wunc.orgWed, 03 Sep 2014 16:10:55 +0000American Tobacco Turns 10Leoneda IngeFor the first time, North Carolina’s 16 regional councils of government have come together to create a blueprint for statewide community and economic development. The report is called “North Carolina Tomorrow, Building Communities for Tomorrow’s Jobs.” It focuses on the competitive advantages of each region, like Tourism and Energy. But also give attention to emerging technologies like video modeling and gaming. Joe McKinney is Executive Director of the National Association of Development Organizations . “From a national perspective, a lot of our states are looking at the new economy, it’s no longer going out and chasing smoke stacks,” said McKinney. McKinney says North Carolina’s strategy is impressive. “Other states are looking for models and this one in NC is one we can hold out there as best practices give some other states some direction.” Pat Mitchell is Assistant Commerce Secretary for Rural Development. She says a lot of the goals and strategies in the report are similar to theNC Regions Release Statewide Economic Development Blueprinthttp://wunc.org/post/nc-regions-release-statewide-economic-development-blueprint
36726 as http://wunc.orgThu, 05 Jun 2014 03:34:46 +0000NC Regions Release Statewide Economic Development BlueprintRebecca MartinezRaleigh is bidding farewell to its planning director. Mitchell Silver took the post in 2005, when Raleigh was a mid-sized city grappling with rapid population growth. Silver says the city was able to ride the wave by becoming an attractive place to live and work. He cites changing density and zoning ordinances, building the Raleigh Convention Center, and revitalizing Hillsborough Street and Cameron Village as successes. Silver, who once served as president of the American Planning Association, said the projects worked because multiple government offices pulled together on a plan, and constituents backed it up. “That's rare across the country. Either the city is too large, where it's very difficult to be connected with the community, or it's too small, they don't have staff capacity to make it happen,” Silver said. “But this is a government that works for residents and for businesses. And so, we don't have silos of excellence. We had great collaboration across department lines.” SilverRaleigh Planner Leaves For The Big Applehttp://wunc.org/post/raleigh-planner-leaves-big-apple
34144 as http://wunc.orgMon, 21 Apr 2014 11:35:18 +0000Raleigh Planner Leaves For The Big AppleWUNC NewsA new study is challenging the notion that low-paid immigrant populations are "taking" jobs from native North Carolinians. The study , prepared by professors from UNC-Chapel Hill and commissioned by the North Carolina Bankers Association, suggests that Hispanic workers are more likely to be in their prime working years, and thus, more employable than older, non-Hispanic whites. The size of immigrant populations is exploding as well, growing more than 3,300 in NC since 1960. The study collected data on the overall economic impact of different immigrant groups. Overall, non-native populations had about a $20 billion positive impact on the state in 2010. At a press conference, Congresswoman Renee Ellmers of Dunn asked the study's authors if there's any truth to the notion that low-paid immigrants are taking the jobs of more qualified native workers. Author Stephen Appold of UNC-Chapel Hill's business school said that is a commonly held belief "But when we look at the numbers, we can'tNo Evidence That Low-Paid Immigrants Are "Taking" NC Jobshttp://wunc.org/post/no-evidence-low-paid-immigrants-are-taking-nc-jobs
33871 as http://wunc.orgWed, 16 Apr 2014 01:03:18 +0000No Evidence That Low-Paid Immigrants Are "Taking" NC JobsJorge ValenciaGov. Pat McCrory’s plan to move parts of the state’s business recruiting functions to a private nonprofit have been delayed, as the new organization’s managers are setting up a plan for the transition and finding costs to cut, officials said Tuesday. Parts of the state Commerce Department will be transferred to the Economic Development Partnership no sooner than July this year, according to a department letter given to legislators Tuesday. Two of the department’s divisions had been scheduled to be moved by June and three more by December. McCrory and Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker outlined a plan to form the new organization in December 2013 to take the economic development role of the department, attracting businesses from outside of the state and country. The reorganization would move dozens of jobs and millions of public dollars to the partnership, the Greensboro News & Record has reported . Some state legislators, including Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Sampson County), haveNew Nonprofit CEO Slows Partial Privatization Of NC Commerce Dept.http://wunc.org/post/new-nonprofit-ceo-slows-partial-privatization-nc-commerce-dept
29675 as http://wunc.orgWed, 29 Jan 2014 12:36:41 +0000New Nonprofit CEO Slows Partial Privatization Of NC Commerce Dept.Leoneda IngeNorth Carolina’s Economic Development Board is reviewing strategies and making suggestions on how to help re-vamp the state Commerce Department. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker says she’s pretty positive the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina will be a reality. “It’s a total re-organization, it is indeed. Redesign, I guess is a better way to say it," said Decker. The proposed partnership would privatize many of the agency’s functions and reportedly eliminate dozens of positions, including the directors of the film industry and tourism. Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst is Vice-Chair of the newly formed economic development board reviewing the proposal. “And so right now, all is good and that we have captured that well, a lot of really exciting things. And we got to go back and then say, what can we afford. We have to be a good stewards, certainly, of government resources," Whitehurst. Secretary Decker says the new CEO of the Economic Development Partnership will report to herNC Commerce Talks Privatizationhttp://wunc.org/post/nc-commerce-talks-privatization
27253 as http://wunc.orgThu, 12 Dec 2013 03:43:23 +0000NC Commerce Talks PrivatizationForty years ago, the controversial supreme court decision Roe Versus Wade ushered in a new era of reproductive rights and touched off a culture war that has waged ever since.Ipas Celebrates 40 Yearshttp://wunc.org/post/ipas-celebrates-40-years
17161 as http://wunc.orgThu, 13 Jun 2013 15:48:31 +0000Ipas Celebrates 40 Years